Senator Van Hollen Receives COA Congressional Public Health Leadership Award

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COAUSPHS.ORG SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX ESTE VOLUME 56, ISSUE 5 | JUNE/JULY 2018

from the Memorial Day 2018 Photos by Jun Shen Executive Director On an overcast Memorial Day, celebrated on 28 May 2018, ADM (Dr.) Brett Giroir, highest ranking officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, presented a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. With ADM Giroir were Mrs. Jill Giroir; RADM Kelly Taylor, the EHO CPO; and Col. (ret.) Jim Currie, James T. (Jim) COA’s Executive Director. The wreath, featuring blue and gold flowers, bore a ribbon Currie, Ph.D., emblazoned “U.S. Public Health Service.” The PHS contingent was allowed to participate Colonel, USA Ret. in the ceremony because of COA’s membership on the Veterans Day National Committee.

This solemn occasion at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was preceded by the official Memorial Day remembrance at the Arlington National Cemetery amphitheater, which A Typical Executive included presentations from the Chairman of the Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense, and the President. The official “Parade of Colors” included the PHS Director Day flag and the American flag, the former carried by carried by LT Casmir Ogbonna. This “Jim, I know all of you at COA are was the second consecutive Memorial Day on which the PHS flag was carried into the busy representing us, but I’d really amphitheater by a uniformed PHS officer. At the conclusion of the Presidential address like to know what you do in a typical and musical finale, the PHS group proceeded to the wreath-laying area at the Tomb of the day.” One of our members said this Unknown Soldier. to me during the recent Symposium Nineteen Commissioned Corps officers gave up their holiday to participate in the events at in Dallas, and I thought it would be Arlington National Cemetery. CAPT Josef Rivero, a former COA board member currently an appropriate topic for my June-July assigned to the National Institutes of Health, took the lead in organizing the Memorial Day Frontline column. So, here’s what participation. COA arranged for the wreath. one of my days looks like. COA members participating in the 2018 Memorial Day events at Arlington National I’m usually up by 0630, do all the Cemetery included ADM Brett Giroir, RADM Kelly Taylor, CAPT Jenean Willis-Marsh, CAPT usual items of dressing and having Josef Rivero, CAPT Soju Chang, CAPT Suzan Gordon, CDR Indira Harris, CDR Kun Shen, breakfast, then generally sign onto CDR Julie Erb-Alvarez, LCDR Michael Muni, LCDR Kimberly Calvery, LCDR Carla Chase, my COA email account on my home LCDR Gail Tarlton, LCDR Alesha Harris, LCDR Iman Martin, LT Casmir Ogbonna, and LT computer by 0730. With just over Heather Light. 5600 active members scattered across six U.S. time zones, I receive emails at all hours of the day and night. I respond immediately to those that do not require me to do any research.

I then leave for work. It is a twenty- five mile drive around the Capital Beltway, and depending upon whether someone has had a see EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR on page 16

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Capitol Hill Representation Efforts on Capitol Hill continually support all Commissioned Corps officers – active duty and retired

Local Representation COA Local Branches provide venues for meeting fellow officers and a forum for the discussion of issues within the Commissioned Corps

Newsletter reports on monthly Legislative Update activities and items of interest about the Corps & COA COA and Coalition Politics Insurance Programs by Judy Rensberger of nearly three dozen organizations representing Low-cost insurance programs five million veterans, retirees, and active-duty that may continue as long as your Everyone who works in the public policy arena, service members and their families. membership in COA remains current whether as a paid professional or volunteer activist, knows that Coalition Politics is the name In all these coalitions, COA staff (and sometimes $7,500 for Online Degrees of the game. Advocating side-by-side with Board members) join representatives from other $7,500 scholarships to earn online other groups and organizations who share your coalition partners to visit Capitol Hill, sign on to degrees, which include: positions and believe in your cause is the best letters and news releases, participate in press MPH@GW way to create momentum and persuade policy conferences and congressional briefings, and MHA@GW makers to support your public policy goals. meet in small groups with members of Congress HealthInformatics@GW and their key staff. MBA@UNC This is especially true if one wishes to maintain MBA@Simmons a non-partisan stance and steer clear of political COA has recently joined a new coalition, HealthcareMBA@Simmons action committees, candidate fund-raisers, and “American Indian/Alaska Native Health Partners.” IRonline (American) partisan campaigns. It advocates for the Indian Health Service MBA@American and its personnel, including both health care COA qualifies on all counts. We are strictly non- NYMC Online MPH professionals and support staff. Since nearly partisan. In the 13 years I have been with COA, 50 percent discount for the online 1,900 PHS officers work for the Indian Health our campaign contributions have totaled exactly MPH and certificate programs Service on reservations across the country, zero dollars. We have not endorsed anyone for this coalition is a perfect fit for COA. It is led by elected office anywhere. Scholarship Program Judy Sherman, a former House Appropriations College scholarships for children and However, COA is an active, longtime participant Committee staffer, who also started “Friends spouses of COA members in several broad-based coalitions that share a of Indian Health” in 1997. The new coalition, vision of improved public health, an expanded called “AI/AN Partners” for short, focuses Ribbon and well-trained public health workforce, primarily on appropriations issues. The Partners Authorized to be worn on the PHS realistic agency appropriations, and more easily were pleased to learn recently that the House uniform by members in good standing accessible care for those who live in rural or Appropriations Committee in its FY 19 Interior bill when attending COA functions economically distressed areas, and for those had increased funding for IHS loan repayment who serve our country at home and abroad in and scholarships to $70,765,000, an increase of the uniformed services. $21,402,000 over current funding. OFFICER D S A E S N S O Examples are “Friends of HRSA” and the “CDC Also on the AI/AN Partners’ wish list are IO S C S I I A Coalition,” both organized and run by the additional direct funding for Indian Country to

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O American Public Health Association (APHA), address the opioid crisis, mandatory funding for

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O C and “Tricare for Kids,” supported primarily by the the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), Children’s Hospital Association. By far the largest and restoration of funding for the Community coalition in which COA participates is The Military Health Representatives (CHR) program. O . F C Coalition (profiled on our home page). It consists T IN HE USPHS Canine Training at the Atlanta Airport by LT Colleen Scott and CDR Elissa Meites packages we were carrying, catching nearby unwitting passengers off guard as TSA Hundreds of dogs have been trained to Officers surrounded us and calmly asked us detect explosives and to help protect the to step out of the secure area. nation’s transportation systems. PHS officers in Atlanta were offered the opportunity The purpose of the training exercise was to participate in a unique interagency to make sure the K9 team were detecting collaboration with the Transportation explosives on strangers in the busy airport Security Administration (TSA) to support the environment, rather than recognizing their training of these impressive canines. own TSA Officers. TSA appreciates federal employees who can volunteer as “decoys” Our volunteer experience started at the because they give canine trainers/handlers center of the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson the opportunity to test the dog’s skills during International airport, waiting to be met by a practical training exercises, and during TSA Canine Handler we had spoken to by A K9 team in action screening passengers at the regular screening. airport phone. We received a safety briefing, signed a release form, and confirmed that we were TSA ATL Supervisory Transportation Security not at all afraid of dogs. Then, we were Specialists-Canine, Deborah Scandrett and each issued a “suspicious package” to carry Michelle Ramos, ensure that all operations through the different areas of the airport, and requirements are carried out effectively where TSA Canine (K9) teams would search and efficiently on a daily basis. us out. The dogs we worked with were quite skilled The goal was the same each time: The K9 at tracking the hazardous scents, but some team had to identify the person carrying dogs who start the program don’t end up the package, despite its hidden location. becoming professional bomb-sniffers, and When the K9 teams were ready, we strolled they can be adopted by families. You can casually into the security line headed toward learn more about how to adopt a “TSA the domestic terminal of the airport. For dropout” dog here: https://www.tsa.gov/ the next few hours, we tried to outwit and canine-adoption-program. sometimes outrun the nose of the very If you are interested in volunteering to be persistent dogs. It was sometimes difficult a decoy, email Program Assistant Brandi to keep a straight face when the dogs Sangueza at [email protected]. Airport sign indicating TSA K9 teams at work inevitably found us and alerted on the

Package carried by CDR Meites, correctly identified TSA K9 with LT Scott after successfully detecting the as suspicious by a TSA K9 suspicious package strapped to her right ankle

June/July 2018 | Page 3 COF President’s Corner by Mike Milner, DHSc, PA-C for the entire week was just amazing. GOYA exhibited last year in Chattanooga, The synergy that I saw between him but Meriterese lost her grandmother just Rear Admiral, United States Public Health and VADM Jerome Adams, our US a day or so before last year’s meeting and Service (ret.) Surgeon General was so amazing. was unable to present. She came this President, PHS Commissioned Officers There were times when, during their year and gave a special nutritional talk at Foundation for the Advancement of Public “tag team” presentation on opening our VIP Exhibitor reception on Wednesday Health day, that it seemed they could finish night. It was a home run! I can’t tell you Greetings to my fellow USPHS Officers, each other’s sentences. The only other how many exhibitors said to me just how both active and retired. time I have seen that phenomenon was informational her fifteen-minute update with my twin daughters as they were was. It provided ways to blend foods to It’s hard to believe, but Dallas is already growing up; they literally often did finish reduce insulin surges, lower sodium and two weeks in the rear-view mirror. What one another’s thoughts. But seeing improve overall health. This was the first an exciting and jammed packed meeting! it reflected in the way forward for the time we have ever had a CE-type lecture Seeing so many of my friends in one place USPHS Commissioned Corps in such a in one of our receptions with exhibitors, was very special; it was particularly special striking way was truly special. Prior to my but judging from the success, we might to Patty, who had missed the past couple retirement, I served nearly ten years in consider this again in the future. At the meetings due to her work commitments. the Office of the Assistant Secretary for end of the symposium they donated We both had an action-packed week and Health, and I don’t recall anytime where leftover food samples to a local food were able to recharge our batteries. the symbiosis was this tight. I congratulate bank. Now that’s commitment to service. How about the numbers-- over 1300 both leaders for their vision, their passion, Thank you, Meriterese for helping make participants!!! That makes our 2018 and their commitment to the nation our exhibitor showcase program such a USPHS COF symposium the largest ever by navigating the new administration’s success! according to folks who have been doing “Reinventing Initiative.” I firmly believe that We can’t have a COF Symposium without this longer than I. We are so thankful to the Corps will be much better on the other a RAM event. Just like we have done the everyone who participated, especially to side of this process. And it wouldn’t be past few years, over 100 USPHS officers all the junior officers who made the trek to complete without thanking our Deputy US donated their clinical skills to provide Dallas. Our planning committee, headed Surgeon General, RADM Sylvia Trent- badly-needed medical, dental, optical, by RADM Pam Schweitzer and CDR Adams, for her extraordinary devotion to laboratory and mental health services to Deborah Dee, did a stellar job; the plenary the Corps and for her leadership during several hundred of our neediest citizens in sessions were amazing, and the break- the recent transitions. She made the Durant, OK, in the southeast corner of the outs were just as good. There were so rounds to all the exhibitors to thank them state. Thanks to all the officers who made many excellent presentations at the same for their participation on behalf of the OSG this another huge success, including time, it was hard to decide which ones and ASH, and especially on behalf of our RADM Meeks, CAPT Brandon Taylor, our to attend. And how about Dr. Jennifer officers in attendance. partners at RAM, and all the support folks Fogarty, the NASA Scientist who was our Special thanks to CAPT (ret.) Jim who made this idea a reality. I wasn’t able keynote at the Anchor and Caduceus Minor and to John DiMaggio for their to attend this year, but everyone said it dinner? Her presentation was just “out of outstanding efforts to completely sell was a very special event, and those who this world” (oh, no, did I really say that, out our exhibit hall this year. This was, were helped were grateful beyond words. HAHA). Dealing with patient care here on again, another first. The exhibitors were Way to serve, PHS!! earth is one thing, but learning about the very informative, engaging, and deeply added burdens of care in spaceflight is a We’ll know if a few weeks how we did committed to our foundation as well as “whole ‘nother world”! Ok, enough with financially with our meeting in Dallas; we our service. Thanks to all of them who the space jokes. are expecting some concessions from the came and shared their knowledge with hotel/convention center for some of the Having our Assistant Secretary for all of us. A special Shout out goes to “not so good things” like the abysmal air Health, Admiral Brett Giroir, in attendance Meriterese Rancanelli from Goya Foods. see PRESIDENT continued on page 12

Page 4 | June/July 2018 Bureau of Prison Officers from FCC Butner Deploy in response to Hurricane Irma by CDR Yvonne Lassiter

In October 2017, members of Rapid Deployment Force Team 1 were deployed in response to Hurricane Irma. Pictured above are three nurses, one nurse practitioner and one physician assistant. These providers are assigned to the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC. They flew from Raleigh-Durham to Atlanta, where they met with the rest of their RDF-1 team members. From Atlanta everyone rode in chartered buses to Orlando, FL, where they received additional direction and respiratory fit testing. The next day they were off to Fort Myers, FL. Upon arrival they were assigned to a special-needs shelter at a high school in Fort Myers. The residents of the shelter had been displaced from their homes by the hurricane and many came with very few personal items. PHS teams worked twelve-fourteen hours a day assisting this very vulnerable population, which was grateful to receive care. As USPHS Commissioned Officers, the team did what it was called upon to do, which is to serve the most vulnerable and underserved. The team did so with pride and Pictured are from left to right: LCDR M. Van Sickle, PHS Officer, CDR Y. Lassiter, PHS Officer and LCDR D. Lowe distinction.

Arctic Branch COA Members Volunteer at Alaska Mission of Mercy by CDR Joseph Holshoe and CDR Stella Wisner

On April 13-14, 2018, members of the COA Arctic Branch in Fairbanks, AK, joined 374 local area volunteers to help provide free dental care to Alaska residents at the Alaska Mission of Mercy (AKMOM) - Fairbanks event. Mission of Mercy is a faith-based community organization that provides free healthcare, dental care, and prescription medications to the uninsured, underinsured, and to those who “fall through the cracks” of our healthcare system. At this event, patients came from as far as Anchorage (600 miles) to receive free dental care, as well as wellness assessments and assistance in coordination of care with local service agencies. Many patients camped outside the event site overnight in order to secure their place in line.

Among those who participated were COA members CDR Joe Holshoe and CDR Stella Wisner. CDR Holshoe is a psychiatric nurse practitioner stationed with the US Army at Fort Wainwright, and he served as one of the providers at the Medical Triage station, ensuring that patients were healthy enough to receive dental treatment. After the patients were medically cleared, they were sent to the Dental Triage station, where CDR Wisner provided oral cancer screenings and determined patients’ dental needs. CDR Wisner is a dental officer stationed with the Indian Health Service in Fairbanks. As she is also an exodontist, CDR Wisner was pulled from Dental Triage to help remove teeth at the Oral Surgery station when the line became backed-up. In addition to oral surgery, patients also received fillings, cleanings, and root canals. A limited number of patients also received temporary dentures to replace teeth that were removed. There were a great number of patients suffering from dental infections and pain who benefited from this free care. In total, AKMOM provided 652 patients with $743,026.60 worth of free dental treatments.

The AKMOM event is one of many Mission of Mercy intensive weekend clinical events that have occurred across the US supported by the America’s Dentists Care Foundation (ADCF). PHS Commissioned Corps officers of all categories have volunteered at these events and, in addition to dentists and dental hygienists, there is also a need for medical professionals such as physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists. Non-medical volunteers are also needed for other roles such as registration, interpreters, and data entry.

June/July 2018 | Page 5 Not a Pleasant Thing to Contemplate by Col. Jim Currie, USA (ret.)

I’m writing about death, a subject that many of us would just as soon avoid. But it catches up with all of us sooner or later, and when we are gone, most of us would probably like to be remembered at our final resting place. That’s what this article is about: how your next-of-kin (NOK) can obtain a suitable marker for your JOIN a COA gravesite. There are two different kinds of markers I am going to cover in this article, and COMMITTEE the forms for ordering them are posted on the COA website. Awards The first of these markers is what is called the “Standard Government Headstone or Marker.” It is available for all deceased veterans who were discharged under conditions other than Dishonorable Communications and and who are buried in private or local government cemeteries (not VA cemeteries). Your NOK will need a copy of your DD-214 or the USPHS form PHS-6134 Statement of Service, and you have to have PR served a minimum of twenty-four months on continuous active duty. VA Form 40-1330 is the one used to order this marker. It is found on the COA website at http://www.coausphs.org/media/1832/va- Legislation and Benefits form-claim-for-standard-government-headstone-or-marker.pdf . The instructions illustrate the types of insignia—religious or non-religious—that can be engraved on the marker. Local Branch The second type of marker is the bronze medallion that can be affixed to a privately-purchased tombstone in a private or local government cemetery. Membership VA Form 40-1330M, found on the COA website at http://www.coausphs.org/media/1833/va-form- Nominations claim-for-government-medallion-for-placement-in- private-cemetery.pdf , is the proper one to use for Resolutions and the medallion, which comes in three sizes. As with Constitution the standard headstone, you must have served for twenty-four months continuous active duty and have Retiree and Alumni been discharged under honorable conditions. This marker is the one about which we have been having many discussions with the VA. As you will note when you access the form, there are boxes indicating branch of service. USPHS is not one of Email us to volunteer at them. We contacted the VA about this omission, and their response was that it is hard to change a government form. We rejected this excuse, as it is the VA’s own form. It’s not as if they had to get [email protected] permission from the Defense Department or elsewhere. We pursued this issue with the VA, and the staff there went so far as to refer the question to the VA Office of General Counsel to see if PHS officers were even eligible for the medallion. We insisted that this was unnecessary, but they did it anyway. Well, surprise, OGC came back and said that PHS officers are eligible for the medallion, so we then asked how long it would take for them to change the form. The officialA V response was that they didn’t know, but that if PHS officer next-of-kin wanted to order the medallion, they should check OFFICER D S A E S N S “Other,” and provide an explanation. We find that O IO S C completely unacceptable and will continue to pursue S I I A

T this with the VA. Meanwhile, that’s how your NOK M

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O C We fully understand that PHS officers want to plan for a suitable memorial, so we trust that this O . information will be helpful as you do so. F C T IN HE USPHS

Page 6 | June/July 2018 COF Leadership Training: Bring the training opportunity to you! by CDR Michael Verdugo, CDR Jessica Graham and CDR Chris vanTwuyver

How do we get leadership training to help us grow as Commissioned Corps officers? Sometimes we can get it from DCCPR; sometimes we can get it from our agency or duty location; and sometimes we just have to go and get it ourselves! With the support of the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF), this is exactly what twenty officers from twelve different duty stations representing five different COA branches (Bemidji, WI; Chicago, IL; Great Lakes, MI; North Central, NC; and Twin Cities, MN) and four different agencies (IHS, FDA, CDC and BOP) did.

On the weekend of 5-6 May, these twenty officers participated in “Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset” a course or type of training is $900-$1200 - “I hope that this course is routinely offered two-day leadership development program made this a great opportunity and value. to USPHS Officers and HHS Leadership. The course is a small investment of time and previously held at the COF Symposium in This training built on the material from the money, but provides many tools that new Chattanooga and scheduled this year as “Leadership and Self-deception” book and experienced leaders can use to become another two-day preconference session circles in which most participants had more effective leaders.” in Dallas. While attending the annual COF previously participated. Additionally, this Symposium and the opportunities there to training has been offered by IHS, BOP and As Commissioned Corps officers, we have train and network with other officers may FDA at other locations besides the offerings many needs and challenges in learning to be preferred, for many officers that can that COF has provided at the annual become better leaders and officers. Taking be difficult due to a variety of duty station Symposium. Feedback from participants advantage of low-cost training opportunities responsibilities, support, or distance. With included: that align with agency and other officer the support of COF, bringing this training activities is one thing we can control and - “Great workshop, great facilitators, closer to officers’ duty station is quite do ourselves. We know that leadership great use of my time! Thank you for the feasible and is a terrific way to help officers learning is a continuous journey. Learning opportunity! The knowledge I gained will invest in their own personal and professional new concepts and skills is only the first have a positive impact on my work life and development as officers and leaders. step, and the real adult learning occurs home life!” Some officers came from as far away as as we continue to practice and integrate Chicago, IL and the Pine Ridge Reservation - “I loved this workshop! I can’t wait to go these concepts and tools into our everyday in South Dakota, with several participants back and use what I learned in my work and lives and experiences. To help “invite” this driving ten hours and over 630 miles. marriage/life.” learning, participants received a challenge coin with a real “challenge”, to practice what Leadership officers from the regional COA - “This workshop has been an eye-opener they learned in this workshop for at least five branches providing “organizing muscle.” for the way I view problems at work and minutes every day for ninety consecutive Coordination was challenging, but starting home. I recommend this workshop to days. four months early made it relatively easy to provide a deeper understanding of others identify a central location and date when and to slow the pace, to see positive If you are interested in how to coordinate most folks interested in participating could outcomes. I was very much ‘in the box’, but a similar training or learn how we made it attend. The FDA district office in Minneapolis now I have the tools to get out!” happen, please reach out to CDR Michael was selected as a manageable location for Verdugo at [email protected], CDR - “Thank you to all who brought this to our everyone, minimizing cost and travel time. Jessica Graham at Jessica.graham@ihs. region and officers in the Midwest! I enjoyed Besides travel costs, each participant only gov or CDR Chris van Twuyver at Chris. the books and am excited to apply the new had to pay $180 for the training materials. [email protected]. The fact that the normal registration for this insights and skills I learned.”

June/July 2018 | Page 7 Keeping on Track with the New Weight Standards Using Mobile Apps by CDR Danielle Mills, CDR Jamie Mutter, and LCDR LaJeana grocery shopping or eating out. Additionally, many weight loss and Hawkins fitness apps have components meant to increase your motivation, including community support, point systems, and tools that On July 20, 2017, CCHQ officially released the Corps Retention document the progress you’ve made over time. Weight Standards. If you are feeling nervous about the new standards or just want to get to a healthier weight, there may be My Fitness Pal is an app that calculates calories, allows user users some good assistance options within reach of your smart phone. to track their food intake, and track exercise. The app offers an A balanced diet and a proper exercise routine in combination are extensive food database with over 6 million different foods, which very effective in helping you lose extra pounds and get in shape. makes it is easy to keep a daily food journal. The food database Mobile apps can provide additional resources and help hold you also includes several restaurants’ foods, which can help guide accountable. They can help keep you on track and collect your users to select healthier options when eating out. Some of the personal health and fitness data. What follows is a review of some additional features include a barcode scanner which makes it easy free apps that might prove helpful. Many of them use tracking to add nutritional information for packaged food. Users can also tools to monitor your weight, food intake, and exercise habits, track weight and search for and save their own healthy recipes. while others provide guidance for making healthy choices when see APPS continued on page 10 Fighting Docs Win Championship by CAPT Timothy Jiggens

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) hockey team, the Fighting Docs, is comprised students, staff, and faculty from USUHS and the nearby Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The USPHS contingent this year included CAPT Timothy Jiggens, an Environmental Health Officer at FDA, and ENS Quinn Bott, a former Pharmacist Officer who is now a second-year USUHS medical student. Despite frequently losing players to deployments, rotations, and Fighting Docs with the Division Championship Trophy. CAPT Timothy Jiggens, back row 4th from left. ENS Bott not Operation Bushmaster, the Fighting Docs present. finished the regular season in first place.

The Docs swept their division playoff series thanks to CAPT Jiggens’ game winning goal, his lone point during the playoffs. The Fighting Docs are now invited to the Hockey North America League Championships in Toronto, though the demands of military service make it unlikely they’ll be able to field a team. ENS Bott, completing a clerkship at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, GA, was forced to miss the playoffs. He did, however, play a game last fall just hours after running ENS Quinn ENS Quinn Bott Bott on the the Army Ten Miler. We’re certain his prepares to receive a ice during a dedication to military medicine and public pass during a Fighting Fighting Docs health will serve him well in the future. Docs game. game.

Page 8 | June/July 2018 Arlington Wreath-Laying Ceremony Honors Nurses’ Wartime Service by Judy Rensberger

RADM Carol Romano (Ret.), a longtime COA member, Foundation Trustee, and former Chief Nurse Officer of the USPHS, led off the 2018 wreath-laying ceremony at the Nurses’ Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. The annual ceremony, held this year on 7 May, honors the dedication of uniformed nurses who served our country in wartime.

In her opening remarks, RADM Romano reflected on what inspires someone to become a nurse in the first place, what nurses do, and what their role has been throughout our history. Wreath for the Nurses’ Memorial in Arlington National “In the silent war against disease, injury and illness that we all fight on our unique and Cemetery separate battlefields each day, it is the nurse who has the power to bring the silent moments of cease fire into the hearts of those we serve,” she said. “It is in those precious moments of silence that only the nurse can bring the gift of caring, the glimmer of hope, and the promise of health and peace for a nation and a world.”

The wreath-laying ceremony was held on a picture-perfect day, amidst mature trees on the impeccably-groomed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery’s Section 21. RADM Romano and Nurse Corps leaders from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and USPHS laid the wreath at the base of the towering statue of Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing. The site is footsteps away from old- fashioned headstones marking the graves of contract nurses who were recruited by the U.S. Army to care for servicemen injured during the Spanish-American War of 1898.

The wreath-laying ceremony is held each year during National Nurses week, which itself is always scheduled near 12 May, the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale in England in 1820. USPHS officers assist in the wreath-laying ceremony

RADM Romano is Dean and Professor of the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. She has long been recognized for her pioneering work in the field of nursing informatics. As a USPHS nurse, she worked for thirty-four years at the NIH Clinical Research Center as a clinician, clinical investigator, and nurse educator and leader.

Invited guests included current and former leaders representing the Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, Army Nurse Corps, and the American Nurses Association (ANA). COA was represented by Executive Director Jim Currie and Government Relations Director Judy Rensberger.

This year’s theme for National Nurses Week, selected by the ANA RADM (Ret.) Carol Romano addresses the crowd was “Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence.” National Nurses Week

June/July 2018 | Page 9 APPS from page 8 he application tracks exercise by syncing with over fifty wearable devices such as Fitbit, Apple Health, and Garmin. My Fitness Pal also has built-in community support with a message board where people can share tips and successes stories.

Lose It! focuses primarily on calorie counting and weight tracking. The app analyzes users’ weight, age, and health goals to generate daily calories needs along with a personalized weight-loss plan. After the weight-loss plan has been developed, users can log their daily food intake. The app has a database of over seven million foods which include several restaurant items and popular food brands. This app also has a barcode scanner to track packaged foods. In addition, it has a “Snap It” feature which allows users to track food intake and portion sizes by taking a picture of their meals. The app has a community component through which individuals can participate in challenges with other users, share information, and ask questions. This app can also be synced with other weight loss and wearable fitness devices to track exercise and can be used with other fitness products such as smart scales and certain blood pressure monitors.

Fooducate assists with healthy food choices while grocery shopping through its food grading system. The Fooducate scanner allows users to scan the barcode on packed food items to produce a letter score from A to D, based on the product’s nutritional value. It also provides nutrition facts and ingredients. In addition to the letter grade, the scanner will also warn of unhealthy ingredients that are commonly hidden in products, such as trans-fat and high-fructose corn syrup. It will offer a list of healthier alternatives. The app also has tools that allow users to keep track of exercise habits and calorie intake. While this app is free, there is a monthly subscription cost to have the ability to scan certain products for allergens along with other nutrient tracking features.

Sworkit offers targeted workout programs for all fitness levels. Users can select whether they want to build strength, do yoga, cardio, stretch, or pilates. The app allows users to create their own custom workout routine to fit their exercise goals. Each workout is different to ensure that users are not bored and stay alert. The premium version, which has a monthly subscription, unlocks additional features for a fully-customizable experience. It also offers the ability to talk to trainers.

Freelectics provides over 900 workout routines that only use bodyweight. The routines cover a variety of muscle groups and fitness levels and last anywhere from ten to thirty minutes. All the routines are designed to only use your bodyweight as your exercise equipment. The app provides audio and video guides with step-by-step instructions and sequences for each workout.

Although there are several benefits to using weight loss and fitness apps, some do have downfalls. Some people may find them to be time- consuming and overwhelming. Nevertheless, weight loss and fitness apps are certainly worth trying, to see if they can assist you in reaching your goals. With so many different features, you may need to try a few before finding one that best suits your needs.

App Top 3 Reasons Why we love it Calorie Counter - My Fitness Comprehensive food diary lets you set a calorie goal and log everything you eat to stay on track Pal Recipe import feature makes determining the nutritional stats of your homemade meals quick and easy

Check restaurant order recommendations to make healthy choices while dining out

Lose it! Calorie Counter Innovative food photo lets you snap a picture to generate a calorie count estimate

Allows you to choose from several serving size measurements, saving you from number crunching

Suggests calorie intake per meal to help you stay satisfied

Fooducate Healthy Weight Food grades and explanations let you learn what’s really in your food and help you make healthier Loss & Calorie Counter choices

Personalized nutrition toolbox

Super easy health tracker

Sworkit: Workouts and Workouts for all experience levels with build your own custom feature Fitness Plans Time estimations help you fit workouts into your schedule

Follow guided workout plans and even enjoy your own personal trainer

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Page 10 | June/July 2018 Senator Van Hollen Presented with Public Health Leadership

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COA Board Chair CAPT (Dr.) Dean Coppola, USPHS (ret.) presented the award to Senator Van Hollen. Other COA members present were CAPT (Dr.) Paul Jung, CAPT (Dr.) Beth Fritsch, and LCDR Chris Sheehan.

In a May 16 ceremony in the Hart Senate Office Building, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D- MD) was presented the 2017 Congressional Public Health Leadership Award by the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (COA).

Senator Van Hollen was selected for this award because of his voting record throughout many years of public service, a record which demonstrates his commitment to public health. He voted against elimination of the “Prevention and Public Health Fund,” voted for regulating tobacco as a drug, voted to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program, voted to give mental health full equity with physical health, and voted to require negotiated prescription drug prices for Medicare Part D. Due to his stellar voting record, he was given a 100% rating by the American Public Health Association.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he understands that the “power of the purse” is one of Congress’ most important and effective tools, especially in the silent war against disease. During the Ebola outbreak, Senator Van Hollen said, “There’s no doubt that the deep health care cuts that we’ve seen have made it more difficult to respond in a rapid and comprehensive way to the Ebola outbreak . . . . They’re doing everything they can with the resources they have now, but the cuts they’ve seen in past years, they were like eroding the foundation and it clearly meant that they were starting from behind.”

COA gave the first Congressional Public Health Leadership Award in 2014. Previous recipients include Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Johnny Isackson (R-GA), Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX).

Bluegrass COA volunteers at “Hope for Haiti” by CDR Katrina Cable

On 21 April 2018 a group of US PHS officers, together with friends, coworkers, and families, participated in an outreach activity titled “Hope for Haiti” in Lexington, KY. These officers are stationed at FMC Lexington, KY, and are members of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Commissioned Officers Association (COA). Civil service staff were encouraged to participate and worked alongside their PHS coworkers. Everyone worked with members of a local church to pack food for Haitian children. Over 6,000 volunteers packed 1 million meals over two days. Those meals will be shipped to Port Au Prince, Haiti, and will help feed over 3,000 children, one meal a day, for one year.

June/July 2018 | Page 11 PRESIDENT from page 4 conditioning situation in the halls, general stand-up for service on this board. Many who supported me in all my activities with areas and lobbies. Man, it was hot and organizations have only one candidate the Foundation. I want to thank my fellow I kept hearing Patty exclaim as we went per vacancy, but we were blessed with Trustees for having faith in my leadership, from event to event, “I’M MELTING, two candidates for each vacant slot. As for your friendship, and most of all, for I’M MELTING,” like in the Wizard of Oz. I come off the board, I feel great that the your honest feedback. I will miss working Many of you know that I was stationed at folks stepping up will keep our momentum with all of you day-in and day-out. I want Phoenix Indian Medical Center for a long going. to thank our incredible COA/COF staff for time in the 1990’s, but in Arizona, it’s a their patience, guidance, and unwavering As I reflect on my last two years as your DRY HEAT! At least the AC in the hotel support when I needed something or Foundation President, I am shocked sleeping rooms worked a little better. Our had a request. Jim, John, Teresa, Erica, at how fast it went; it seems like just symposium planning staff and COA/COF Donna, Judy, you were always there with yesterday I was writing my first Frontline staff met with hotel folks at the end of the that ‘Can Do” spirit, no matter how small column in the summer of 2016 and meeting and spelled out their displeasure or large the request. Thank you for your thanking my mentor Bob Williams for his with several items. Any rebates can be personal love of the USPHS, its officers guidance, steady hand on the helm, and rolled into more scholarships for junior both active and retired, and for your love confidence in my skills to stand a watch officers next year. That’s a good outcome of our great nation whom you also serve. as your President. What an honor it has we can all smile about. been to lead this Foundation and help And lastly, I want to thank all the officers, Our trustees voted in late April to renew shape the work of the Foundation for both active and retired, who have helped the terms of three COF Trustees who many years to come! With our expansion me grow as a man, a dad and grandpa, have served three years. I’m happy to of the Outward Mindset officer leadership a husband, a son, a brother, an officer of report that RADM (ret.) Sven Rodenbeck, training, our growth of the John Adams the United States Public Health Service CAPT (ret.) Jim Minor, and Mr. Michael Society by the incredible bequest from Commissioned Corps, and a public health Terry were all unanimously renewed CAPT (ret.) Martha Barclay-Giel, the full- leader. As I step aside to rest and reflect, for their second three-year term. Our funding of our COF Capital Fund with $2 I will think of all of you in all my activities, nominating committee, chaired by RADM million so we can fund our “seed grants knowing that whatever it is that I do next, (ret.) Dick Bertin did a stellar job soliciting program,” or the soon-to-be awarding of I owe a tremendous gratitude to all of you nominations for new Trustees. By the a large number of inaugural CAPT Martha for helping to shape my life and my future. time you read this, you will have three Barclay-Giel COF Grants to community Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, new COF Trustees on board, replacing groups all over the United States to and your passion. I will sleep well tonight term-limited Trustees: myself, CAPT (ret.) advance, promote, and protect the knowing that many of you have the Mary Lambert and CAPT (ret.) Bill Haffner. health and safety of our Nation. We have Watch. Replacing RADM Bertin as a joint COA/ done some amazing growing together We congratulate the following individuals COF Trustee will be CAPT (ret.) Dean over the past two years. I have learned on their selection as trustees of the Coppola, who was elected by the COA so much from all of you, and you have Foundation: CAPT (ret.) Dean Coppola , membership. Also, by the time you read kept me focused, inspired, driven, and RADM (ret.) Steven Galson, RADM (ret.) this, your Trustees will have elected a new passionate about our Foundation and Randall Gardner, and Mr. John Dimaggio. President, Vice President and Treasurer our beloved Corps. I especially want to Their terms started on 1 July. for the next term. It was great to see such thank my wife Patty who loaned me to a wonderful slate of retired senior officer’s the Foundation for the past six years and Best regards for a healthy and safe future.

Golf Tournament The Commissioned Officer Association annual golf tournament is headed back to Maryland National Golf Club on September 17, 2018. This will be the 11th year the tournament has been held with all proceeds going to the Commissioned Officers Foundation scholarship fund. We are gearing up for another successful event and are looking for more participants and sponsors to ensure that this year’s event is the best one yet. Follow all of our updates on Facebook using the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1827341667298512/

If you would like to participate or volunteer this year, please contact LCDR David Schwab at [email protected]

Page 12 | June/July 2018 HBCUs Commended at 53rd Annual USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium for Tobacco Control Leadership

Arizonans Concerned about Smoking, a long-time friend and supporter of both COA and COF, presented Health Leadership Awards on 7 June during the 53rd Annual United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Scientific and Training Symposium in Dallas, TX.

These awards were conferred on five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) for their Tobacco-Free Campus policies, which include no E-Cigarettes/ vaping devices (at a minimum). Two Unsung Heroes were also recognized.

This is the fifth USPHS Symposium where HBCUs who have achieved total Tobacco-Free Campus-wide Policies including no E-Cigarettes/vaping devices (at a minimum) were commended for their tobacco- control leadership.

(Tobacco Control) Health Leadership Awards were conferred this year to the following five HBCUs:Lincoln University of Jefferson City, MO – Accepting for Lincoln University was USPHS Pharmacist CDR Thomas E. Addison.

Wilberforce University of Wilberforce, OH – Accepting for Wilberforce University were two Wilberforce University alumni from the Class of 1973 who are both retired Educators: Ms. Carolyn B. Bond and Ms. Sandra Forsythe (Miss Wilberforce 1972-1973).

Benedict College of Columbia, SC Mississippi Valley State University of Itta Bena, MS

Coahoma Community College of Clarksdale, MS – Accepting for these three Institutions were three Legacy Foundation’s HBCU Steering Committee Representatives: USPHS Captain James LaVelle Dickens, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP; USPHS Captain Elijah Martin who also serves as Region III Minority Health Consultant for the Office of Minority Health; and USPHS Commander Stacy Harper, who was responsible for helping to secure Legacy Foundation funding for four HBCUs in Texas.

Also honored during the ceremony as Unsung Heroes were: John E. McElligott, Deputy Executive Director, USPHS COA/COF for the Advancement of Public Health well known and for excellence in serving others and

John M. Spealman, Mechanical Engineer and a strong Advocate of Clean Smoke-Free Air for over fifty years, now retired living near a County Road in Texas. Accepting for Mr. Spealman was Acting Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), USPHS RADM Michael D. Weahke, MHA, MBA.

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June/July 2018 | Page 13 Junior Officer Spotlight: Meet LCDR Clara Stevens Physical Therapist LCDR Clara Stevens, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention assigned to Federal Medical Center, Carswell subcommittee has fostered several projects in Fort Worth, TX, was the Therapists’ worthy of recognition. These include an category “Junior Officer of the Month” for interactive health and wellness calendar; April 2018 She manages multiple specialty a Step it Up! wellness initiative in support clinics at her site, including the Orthopedic of VADM Vivek Murthy’s call to action; a and Electromyography clinics. Recognizing multi-category Opioid Awareness booth at the need to decrease opioid dependence the 2017 Commissioned Officers Foundation in inmates, she developed and co-leads a (COF) National Symposium; the therapist multidisciplinary chronic pain management coaching program; and TPAC Healthy Lifestyle program which implements conservative Challenges. She is also a member of the TPAC pain management treatment options for Social Media Subcommittee and Co-lead of Deployment Force-Three (RDF-3) and is the incarcerated women assigned to the prison. the upcoming Therapist Category Day at the team’s Deputy PIO officer. She deployed to the This intensive nine-week program includes COF National Symposium. For the 2018 COF 2016 Louisiana Floods, the 2017 Chattanooga weekly physical therapy, psychology, and pain Symposium she is organizing a Therapist Remote Area Medical Community Outreach science lectures as well as guest speakers informational booth to assist officers with event, and to Puerto Rico with RDF-2 from multiple disciplines. This program has meeting the height/weight standards and has following Hurricane Maria. greatly reduced the use of narcotics in the co-developed a Therapist coaching program Pictured above is LCDR Stevens showing facility for non-cancer chronic pain. LCDR to virtually assist officers struggling to meet the chair exercises to a patient at the Federal Stevens is committed to health education height/weight standards. The booth also plans Medical Station in Puerto Rico. She is an and is a lifelong learner who completed her to have therapists available to provide general active COA member and has served as the Master’s degree in Public Health in May, 2018. information for officers with injuries which may Tucson Branch COA Secretary and Vice- limit exercise tolerance, as well as providing LCDR Stevens is a voting member of President. The Therapist Category is proud to general health, wellness, and injury prevention the Therapist Professional Advisory recognize LCDR Stevens for her outstanding information. Committee (TPAC) and serves on multiple contributions to her agency, the mission, and subcommittees. Her work as chair of the LCDR Stevens is a proud member of Rapid the Corps.

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Page 14 | June/July 2018 2018 DMV Hometown Mission by CDR Jennifer Moon and LCDR Rhonita Culver The Inaugural District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) Hometown Mission occurred during the week of 15 April 2018. Hometown Missions are a special initiative of the Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group (BCOAG) and are designed to focus on local community outreach needs and foster esprit de corps among Commissioned Corps officers across the country. These missions are an expansion of the New Orleans, LA, community service missions established by BCOAG after Hurricane Katrina in 2007. Given the large number of officers in the Washington, DC, area, along with the accessibility to both the Surgeon General’s office and the Commissioned Officers Foundation headquarters, the DMV is an ideal location for this type of mission. Scheduled activities included a 5K walk/run, USPHS awareness presentations in local universities, community service projects, and health education workshops in local schools. LCDR LaToya Martin helps to feed the homeless BCOAG members met on Sunday, 15 April at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial for a during the Martha’s Table Dinner & Dishes Outreach group photo that will be featured in the 2019 USPHS Calendar. The official kickoff for the mission was a social event at Firehouse Station 1 in Silver Spring on Monday evening, 16 April. Officers gathered to learn more about and discuss upcoming events. The first school outreach event was at the Beers Elementary School, where officers presented the NPS PACE handwashing curriculum to K-5 grade students. On Wednesday, 17 April, officers went out in force at several high schools, universities, and participating in community service activities throughout the DMV area. Mission coordinators partnered with Martha’s Table, a local community outreach organization, to support programs to educate elementary school children and their parents on healthy eating and feeding the homeless. Officers assisted in preparing meals and distributed healthy grocery items. On Thursday, 18 April, officers went back into local high schools presenting on USPHS Commissioned Corps awareness and opioid abuse prevention. The mission ended with a 5K Walk/Run held at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail in Oxon Hill, MD. Event registration was free, and the 5K was open to the public. Both the walk/ run and USPHS Awareness were promoted on 96.3 WHUR radio, via a “Taking it to the (From left) CAPT Beverly Dandridge, Grand Marshall of the 5K, recognizes LCDR Michael Gifford with Second Streets” segment. Fifty-five officers, family, and friends participated, along with PHS Officer Place in the Runner Category volunteers. The first, second, and third place runners and walkers were recognized with a certificate and ribbon. The 5K was supported by RaceWire race management and sponsored by the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation (COF). The Grand Marshall for the event was CAPT Beverly Dandridge. During this mission, we reached over 350 students at a total of ten elementary, middle, and high school and local universities. If you are interested in hosting a hometown mission in your area, please email [email protected] for more information and assistance. Special thanks to 2018 DMV Hometown Mission Planning Committee members who are in

COA: CDR Jennifer Moon, LCDR Cornelius Moore and LCDR Rhonita Culver and BCAOG PHS Officers, family and friends at the start of the 5K Chair, LCDR Oluwaseun Asante. on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail.

CDR Leo Gumapas provides a handwashing Martha’s Table Joyful Market: (From left) LCDR Edward Valdespino, LCDR demonstration to Jorielle Houston, CAPT Latonia Ford, and LCDR Rosson Smith provide elementary school guidance to students and parents on health earing during the Martha’s Table students at Beers Joyful Market Outreach at Malcolm X Elementary School Elementary School

June/July 2018 | Page 15 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR from page 1 leave-them-alone-and-maybe-they’ll-go-away approach of the Dallas really bad start to their day and crashed into someone else on the Renaissance folks. COA/COF staff met with hotel management while beltway, my commute can last anywhere from thirty-five minutes to in Dallas and asked for a rebate on what we had paid them. I trust two hours. My goal is to get to work by 0900. I generally listen to that Marriott will consider our feedback to them. National Public Radio, followed at 0900 by the British Broadcasting I then drafted a letter to Starbucks, which had a presence in the Corporation (BBC), if I am still on the road. These two sources give hotel. I don’t normally frequent Starbucks, but I was looking for me a flavor of both national and international news. If I am bored by a sandwich, and I knew they sold them. I was totally appalled what I hear, I tune to Sirius XM and listen to classical music. I have an and disgusted when I went into the store and saw numerous office radio tuned to classical music during the day. We have private cockroaches traipsing all over the cellophane-wrapped sandwiches offices at COA headquarters, so I am not disturbing other staff with in the cooler. I told the young woman behind the counter what I had my music. observed. She shrugged. I went to the hotel manager, who said he Arrival at work involves making the rounds and greeting the COA/ would take care of it. I might have called the Dallas County Health COF staff in their offices. I then plop tea bags or loose tea into my Department, but I was sort of busy and didn’t have the time to spare. proper British teapot, which I purchased at Whittards Tea Shop in We’ll see what Starbucks thinks. Our letter to them can be found on Covent Garden, London, many years ago. The teapot has a small the COA website at http://www.coausphs.org/media/1856/letter-to- chip on its spout, but it still holds three large mugs of strong English starbucks-june-2018.pdf Breakfast Tea. I know it is my imagination, but I think tea tastes Then, responding to a member email, I drafted a letter to the Texas better when brewed in a British teapot. I generally drink two pots of Department of Motor Vehicles. I had written a letter on his behalf tea a day, as I do not drink coffee. earlier in the year after he had come to us and said that Texas DMV I then turn to my Outlook account and see the emails that were was not allowing him or his dependents to renew their driver’s either too complicated to answer from home or which have come licenses using the military privilege. I thought we had taken care of in since I left for work. The first step with all email requests is to the problem, but we had not. So, I sent a second letter to them. We determine whether the person is a current member of COA. As of 31 will escalate if necessary. May we have 5610 active members, representing about 65 percent My fourth letter of the day went to the federal Thrift Savings Plan of the Commissioned Corps. But that still leaves 35 percent of active (TSP) leadership. A former COA board member had asked me duty officers who do not support COA. We work for and represent several months ago to send a letter to the TSP board requesting our members, so I tell non-members as politely as I can that our that they create an equities (stock) investment option that did not database shows them as being inactive, and we will not be able to include tobacco or e-cigarette stocks. This is what is known as help them. “socially-conscious investing,” and it is quite common these days. Their response is sometimes astonishment that they have allowed In fact, shortly after I became your Executive Director in April 2014 their COA membership to lapse, and they promise to re-join I proposed to the COA and COF boards that we divest ourselves immediately. Sometimes they do so. Others whine and complain, of any stocks in tobacco and e-cigarette companies, suggesting suggesting that their membership status should not affect what that it was hypocritical of us to profit from the folks we rail against. we do for them. Others simply disappear back into the ether. We The two boards agreed unanimously, and our investment manager think it takes a particular type of chutzpah to ask for help from an followed the guidance we gave her. She told me that many non- organization you don’t support, but there are all kinds of people in profit organizations have specific types of equities in which they don’t the world, even among PHS officers. wish to invest. Our returns and growth have not suffered from this decision. Following my start-up routine (greetings and tea), I started Monday of this week (11 June) by drafting a letter to the Marriott Corporation, I next responded to a member-generated email by calling a parent of the Renaissance Hotel brand. As all 2018 Symposium T-Mobile staffer I had met in Dallas. T-Mobile was an exhibitor at attendees can verify, the convention hotel had significant problems. the Symposium, and they were touting their “military discount” to My letter can be found on the COA website at http://www. attendees. I carefully questioned them about their plan, as I had coausphs.org/media/1848/letter-to-marriott-corporation-jun-2018. been told that there was no PHS option on the pull-down menu. In pdf . In my letter I informed Marriott about three problems with the fact, I had written a letter to T-Mobile in May (please see my letter at hotel: elevators, air conditioning, and roaches. Any one of these http://www.coausphs.org/media/1858/letter-to-t-mobile-re-military- would have been bad enough. Together they formed a trifecta of and-veteran-discounts-may-2018.pdf )asking them about the lack unsatisfactory hotel management. of this option. I have yet to receive a response. The staffer in Dallas assured me that this was a minor glitch and that they would fix it. (I The roach infestation particularly stood out for me, as I have stayed followed up with him on Friday of that week with another phone call). in many third world establishments that had them. Most of the rooms in lesser-developed countries in which roaches appeared I also responded to a member email by drafting and sending a letter also contained lizards that attacked the roach population in a to the National Park Service (NPS). It had been a few years since we “green” way. I never objected to the lizards, but Dallas didn’t offer had an exchange of letters with the NPS, so I thought it appropriate them. (I have no doubt that a lizard presence in Dallas would have to reach out to them once again and ask that they extend the military freaked out many of you; I have no such qualms). I appreciated discount program to USPHS officers. Here’s a link to the letter we the lizard-as-roach-control-agents approach more than I did the sent to the Park Service: http://www.coausphs.org/media/1845/

Page 16 | June/July 2018 letter-to-the-national-park-service-june-2018.pdf If you go to the COA website at http://www.coausphs.org/advocacy/letters-and- news-media/ , you can see the back-and-forth we have had with the NPS over the years since I sent the first letter to them in 2014.

In one of my daily political feeds I saw a piece about a letter than seven U.S. Senators had sent to the head of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the group that provides the movie ratings and warnings to moviegoers. Their letter was a well-reasoned argument pointing out the harm that is done by the constant movie depiction of smoking as a desirable activity worth emulating. Studies have consistently shown that young people are influenced by seeing admirable characters smoking cigarettes and cigars. The Senators suggested that an “R” rating would be appropriate for movies that contained gratuitous smoking. I drafted individual letters to the Senators commending them for their outreach to the MPAA and telling them of our similar efforts with regard to on-stage smoking at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

(Following the anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill several years ago, an event after which USPHS officers were called in to provide their expertise, all mail to the Hill and certain other government offices in the DC area are sent through irradiation chambers to kill any living organisms associated with them. This means a several-week delivery delay, so we hand-deliver any letters we send to the Hill. I took three hours on Wednesday to do that with the letters I had drafted and printed on Monday. I then called each Senator’s office and either talked with the Healthcare Legislative Assistant or left them a detailed voicemail. The Senators to whom we delivered the letters were Blumenthal, Brown, Durbin, Gillibrand, Markey, Murray, and Van Hollen. We don’t know at this point whether any of these Senators will take us up on our request to join us on the Kennedy Center on-stage smoking issue. We shared our letters with leaders of Truth Initiative and Americans for Non-Smokers Rights, both groups with whom we work regularly.)

Our approach to the Kennedy Center President can be found on the COA website at http://www.coausphs.org/media/1860/ letter-to-kennedy-center-president-re-smoking-on-stage-january- 2018-response-from-kennedy-center-president-re-smoking-on- stage-march-2018.pdf . You can see that the Kennedy Center President blew me off with the irrelevant comment that these were “herbal cigarettes,” as if that mattered at all, and that they believed in “creative expression.” There is nothing creative, I think, in fictitious characters parading around a stage puffing away on cigarettes, herbal or otherwise. I wouldn’t expect anyone to do Winton Churchill without the cigar (see, Darkest Hour), but this was not Churchill.

We have continued to pursue action with regard to the Kennedy Center by reaching out to the Chairman of the Kennedy Center Board of Directors, with no success to date. Interestingly, we have learned that the Kennedy Center receives upwards of $200,000 per year from Altria Corporation, parent of Phillip Morris tobacco. Is there a relationship between this donation and the response of the Kennedy Center President? You decide.

So, to the officer who posed the question at the Symposium that inspired this column, this is what one of my days is like. Any other day will be different. That’s part of what makes my job so challenging and so rewarding.

June/July 2018 | Page 17 The Journey Begins: Personal and Professional Reflections on Commissioned Corps Officer Basic Course 102

by LT Lacreisha Ejike-King

According to Lao Tzu, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” My USPHS journey began as I attended OBC 102 in Potomac, MD in April 2018. I felt that April 8 couldn’t get here quickly enough, because this long-time dream was finally coming to fruition. Though I was excited, I must say that I was a little anxious about what to expect during the time away from my family and my job. I’m sure that my binge watching of armed forces boot camp videos on YouTube didn’t help matters much.

As OBC began, I found myself surrounded by like-minded eager folks ready to jump in and get started. We received formal instruction from by the COTA cadre, LT Valloric and CDR Weinburke. Though the cadre was small in number, the members were dedicated and determined to others to and from the uniform shop, and other officers stepped in to care teach us how to not simply be officers, but to be good officers. Theye wer for some who had fallen ill, all without batting an eye. Class leadership supported by a panel of adjunct instructors including CAPT Beck, CAPT was supportive, and also held us accountable to the higher standards Belsito, CDR Morris, and many others who selflessly gave of their time associated with officership. and effort to ensure that we were provided a solid foundation on which to build our careers. I found myself inspired and motivated by the passion and In addition to my formal classroom learning, I found myself on an emotional pride for the USPHS that each instructor displayed while imparting their journey of what becoming a Commissioned Corps officer truly means to wisdom to us. me. One moment stands out in my memory. Standing in formation during morning colors on the day I first donned my khakis, I became misty-eyed Needless to say, we learned a lot in those two weeks in Potomac. We as the National Anthem sounded during morning colors. This caught me learned about USPHS customs and courtesies, how to don the uniforms off guard because I am not normally an emotional person. I thought of and present ourselves appropriately, how to drill, and how to brief groups what I now represent and who I now represent, as well as how proud and and leadership on public health topics. When colleagues told me OBC was grateful I am to have this opportunity. intense (often with a smirk), they weren’t kidding. Through the inspiration and encouragement of the instructors and from fellow OBCers, we In early April 2018, thirty-three strangers descended upon Potomac, MD, found the strength to “push ourselves” (a catchphrase courtesy of LTJG with shared goals of promoting, protecting, and advancing the health of the Aboagye) to strive for greatness daily. nation. After an intense two weeks of learning, studying, exercising, and encouraging one another, thirty-three officers emerged ready to assume As I reflect on my OBC stint, I realize that I witnessed the Corps’ core the great responsibilities that lie ahead of us. We all started our USPHS values being exhibited daily. I saw leadership not only among those journey with this single first step and determined to strive each day to who served in official leadership positions, but also in others who become better officers. As I leave OBC and continue my USPHS journey, I were respectful of and receptive to others’ input. I saw my fellow OBC remain encouraged and empowered as I recall the OBC 102 motto: classmates display extraordinary physical fitness in PT and the APFT. In addition to their physical excellence, they ensured that all of us not only “Discipline to stand for those who can’t! passed the APFT, but put forth a strong effort. OBC 102 Officers selflessly Spirit to serve where others won’t! served and aided one another during our two weeks together. Prior service officers helped those of us new to uniformed service with drill ecisionpr and Bonded to OBC 102!” proper wear and care for uniform components. Physical therapist officers Bon voyage to all the new officers of the Commissioned Corps of the tended to an injured classmate. Those with personal vehicles shuttled United States Public Health Service!

Page 18 | June/July 2018 McElligott Visit to Phoenix

McElligott Visit to Phoenix Health Service (PHS) Officers provide COA board. He was able to speak with crucial benefits to the organization and its and visit with officers stationed in various During the month of April the local mission. McElligott explained how COA settings throughout the facility, including Phoenix Branch Commissioned Officer advocates for officers on a national level. the Main Pharmacy, the Primary Care Association (COA) hosted John McElligott, He shared his views of the importance Medical Clinic, the National IHS Joslin the Deputy Executive Director of the of the Commissioned Corps work force Vision Network Teleophthalmology COA. On April 19, McElligott visited the and its pertinence in the delivery and Program, Nutrition Clinic and various other Phoenix Indian Medical Center (PIMC), achievement of public health initiatives for clinics. met the Commissioned Corps officers the nation. who work within the facility and viewed, The visit from the COA Deputy Executive first-hand, PIMC daily operations. PIMC is After the meeting with the PIMC executive Director proved beneficial for all officers an ideal place to visit because it employs team, McElligott attended the monthly employed at PIMC. Many felt reassured approximately 133 officers, each of whom COA meeting as a distinguished guest. that they have an advocate in the fulfills a unique range of professions, The April COA meeting commenced national COA, and were happy to make programs, and public health initiatives. with McElligott discussing a spectrum of McElligott’s acquaintance. topics with local officers, ranging from McElligott’s visit began by meeting he The local Phoenix COA executive board local issues to national changes within hospital’s executive team, including would like to express their gratitude to the Commissioned Corps. Officers asked the C.E.O., and the local branch COA McElligott for his dedication and continued McElligott numerous questions about how board. A roundtable discussion between support as the Deputy Executive Director such changes may affect their personal McElligott and the hospital’s executive of COA. career paths. After the meeting, McElligott team shared an understanding that Public toured the facility with the local Phoenix

June/July 2018 | Page 19 Sammie Finalist Retired Captain Yeargin-Allsopp

the expansion of health, social and ADDM data have made a big impact on educational services for children with public health. This work has generated special needs.” Please share more details over 100 publications that have been cited about the research method and outcomes. 7,437 times to date.

CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: I initiated The establishment of the methodology for the first population-based study on tracking autism has no doubt propelled children with multiple developmental forward the science and support for disabilities in the U.S. The Metropolitan people with autism in immeasurable ways. Atlanta Developmental Disabilities I am a Developmental Pediatrician by Study (MADDS) provided the model training. Being a clinician helps to know for ongoing surveillance conducted by why the research matters. To me, it was CDC. This pioneering work led to the more than just numbers. Caption: CAPT (Ret.) Marshalyn Yeargin- establishment of what would become Frontline: Where can readers find more Allsopp, M.D. the model program for conducting information about your research? surveillance of developmental disabilities: by COA Staff the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: On the website CAPT (ret.) Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, Disabilities Surveillance Program for the National Center on Birth Defects M.D., of the Centers for Disease Control (MADDSP). MADDSP remains the gold and Developmental Disabilities: www.cdc. and Prevention, was selected as a finalist standard for population-based active gov/ncbddd surveillance system for developmental for the Sammies 2018. Presented by the Frontline: Who nominated you for the disabilities in the U.S. Partnership for Public Service, Sammies Sammie? are considered the Oscars for government In the mid-1990s, CDC began receiving Dr. Deborah service. calls and requests for data on autism. CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: Hirtz, previous Program Director with the Professionals were concerned because Frontline: When did you join the National Institute of Neurological Disorders it appeared that the numbers of families Commissioned Corps and how did you and Stroke, National Institutes of Health. learn about it? requesting services for children with autism was increasing dramatically. Frontline: Describe how it feels to be a CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: When selected At the time there was no population- Sammie finalist. for EIS Class of 1981, I was told about the based surveillance program specific for It is a very Commissioned Corps. I had not heard of autism. Based on the MADDSP model, CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: humbling experience to have been it previously. I discussed with physicians CDC initiated a pilot study to assess the nominated and even more so, to already at CDC and decided to sign up. I feasibility of adding the ongoing tracking of be a finalist. When one reads the retired in 2001, after 20 years of service, autism in 1998. By using MADDSP-based accomplishments of all the nominees and and became a Civil Servant the same year. surveillance methods, CDC could respond finalists, one cannot help but feel that quickly and determine the prevalence Frontline: How long have you been one is in the company of a very special of autism in an investigation for Brick Associate Director for Children and Special group of talented and dedicated federal Township, New Jersey. The expansion Health Care Needs? scientists. of these methods to include autism led CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: I became the to the establishment of the Autism and Frontline: Would you promote the Sammie Associate Director in July 2015. I had been Developmental Disabilities Monitoring awards with fellow USPHS officers and the Developmental Disabilities Branch (ADDM) Network. For nearly two decades, their civilian colleagues? Chief in the National Center on Birth ADDM has provided the nation with timely Absolutely! The Defects and Developmental Disabilities updates of the prevalence of autism. CAPT Yeargin-Allsopp: idea is to give recognition in a way that is since 1999. Both positions are in the These estimates have been widely used by usually not given for the work that many Division of Congenital and Developmental partners around the world to advocate and do, not for fame or glory, but because of Disorders. plan for services for children with autism. dedication and support of the mission to Frontline: You were nominated for having Over the past twenty years, we’ve seen save and improve lives. There should be “pioneered research to understand the replication of the MADDSP multiple more Sammies; many more are deserving the prevalence of autism and other source methodology model across the of this honor! developmental disabilities, influencing world. Analyses using MADDSP and

Page 20 | June/July 2018 The 2018 Scientific and Training Symposium by Col (ret.) Jim Currie, Executive Director conducting research that has potential benefits for those who never leave earth on a space mission. Members of COA and supporters of public health met in Dallas from 4-7 June for the fifty-third annual USPHS Scientific and Both the Minority Officer Liaison Council and the Junior Officer Training Symposium. With over 1300 officers registered, this was Advisory Group started 5 June with early morning meetings and the best-attended Symposium ever, and anecdotal reports suggest award presentations. Separate articles about the awards given out that attendees consider it to have been outstanding in terms of by each group will appear in this or a subsequent issue of Frontline. program and execution. The Renaissance Hotel in Addison, TX, Opening ceremonies for the Symposium took place at 0900 on 5 a suburb of Dallas, was in need of serious refurbishment, with June. Following a welcome from COF President RADM (ret.) Mike elevators (lack thereof), air conditioning (also lack thereof) and Milner, attendees were treated to the annual Luther Terry Lecture, cockroaches (no lack thereof) constituting a trifecta of problems presented this year by Rishi Marchanda, M.D. Marchanda’s that reflected poorly on the Marriott Hotel chain. The Executive presentation was particularly applicable, as he focused on looking Director’s column in this issue of Frontline addresses some of for the upstream cause of problems, rather than just treating these issues, and if you go to the COA website, you will find letters symptoms. He suggested that much of our approach to healthcare that COA sent to both Marriott and Starbucks outlining some of was focused on curing disease, rather than preventing it by looking the problems at the hotel. Please see: http://www.coausphs.org/ “upstream,” as he put it, discovering the root cause of the problem, media/1848/letter-to-marriott-corporation-jun-2018.pdf We will do and preventing the problem before it started. our best to prevent a repeat of such problems when we venture to Minneapolis next year. The Terry Lecture was followed by six concurrent track sessions focusing on the following topics: Pre-conference activities started on Monday, 4 June, with sessions on leadership training which spread over two days. A separate • Preparedness, Deployments, Response, and recovery article describing this training appears in this issue of Frontline. The • Prescription for Wellness PHS Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF) has sponsored this training for several years, and it appears to be well- • Environment and Social Factors received by Corps officers. Other uniformed services provide such • Information Technology, Advances in technology, Social media training as part of the routine educational advancement of their officers, but COF is alone in sponsoring such for the Corps. • Evidence for Action in Health Service Delivery

A concurrent Monday morning Local Branch Workshop organized • Prevention, Health Promotion, and Personal Factors by COA Local Branch Committee Chair CAPT Karen Munoz was COA held its well-attended annual meeting from 1200-1315. COA attended by approximately forty officers. Board Chair CAPT (ret.) Dean Coppola spoke to the membership Monday evening’s no-host reception was followed by a sold- and presented the Health Leader of the Year Award to former out Anchor & Caduceus Dinner, the singular time during the Acting Surgeon General RADM (ret.) Steve Galson, in absentia. Symposium when active duty officers put on their finest dress COA Awards Committee Chair LCDR Kristie Purdy then presented uniforms and retired officers (some, at least) attempt to squeeze other awards on behalf of the Association. They were as follows: into their best. Small Branch of the Year – Kiamichi (Southeast OK)

The A&C speaker was Jennifer Fogarty, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at Large Branch of the Year – Golden Gate (San Francisco, CA) the NASA Human Research Program. Her well-rehearsed and presented remarks touched on areas of great interest to many Civilian Outstanding Support of the USPHS -- Susan Laird, Senior

Corps officers. It was clear that she and others at NASA are see SYMPOSIUM continued on page 23

June/July 2018 | Page 21 PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation Donations Received, May 1 to June 30, 2018 CAPT Maria D. Benke ^ Platinum ($1,000) LCDR Erin M. Griffiths ^ LCDR Charles D. Boison RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu (Ret.) CAPT John J. Henderson (Ret.) CAPT Andrew J. Chen RADM John T. Porvaznik (Ret.) CDR James L. Kenney III CAPT William D. Compton (Ret.) + CAPT John R. Livengood (Ret.) CAPT George A. Durgin, Jr. CAPT Meribeth M. Reed (Ret.) Gold ($500) CDR Cindy J. Flacks + Judy Rensberger CAPT Patricia D. Mail (Ret.) LT Jonathan A. Lee Paul Schlafman ^ LCDR Melinda Ruiz LCDR Ihsan F. Um’Rani CAPT Holly A. Williams Silver ($250) CAPT Sumathy Vannarth (Ret.) + CAPT Gregory J. Glahn CAPT Joan D. Welch (Ret.) RADM George A. Reich (Ret.) ^ Friends (Under $100) CAPT Jennifer L. Williams LCDR Omobogie Amadasu ^ Bronze ($100) Mrs. Carol Dellapenna LCDR Andrew J. Felix ^ ^ C. Everett Koop Living Legacy Fund CAPT Wanza R. Bacon + Relief Fund All other donations were made to the COF General Fund

Donation Levels Leadership Society. . . .$10,000 Visit President’s Society. . . .$5,000 Founder’s Society. . . . .$2,500 phscof.org/giving Platinum...... $1,000 to donate online Gold...... $500 Silver...... $250 today! Bronze...... $100

We Welcome New Members of COA, COA Donations May 1 to June 30, 2018 Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS Donations Received, LTJG Samuel Aboagye • LCDR Ohenewaa Ahima LT Oluburimi Akinkugbe • CAPT Randy Anderson • LTJG Timothy Arr May 1 to June 30, 2018 LT Prince Awuah • LT Shantel Blume • LT Daniel Bordt CAPT Ruben S. Acuna • CAPT Myron J. Adams, Jr. CAPT George Byrns • LT Samora Casimir • LT Joshua Caulder CAPT Gordon R. Aird • CAPT Judith E. Arndt LT Shanly Chen • CAPT Sandra Costa-Brousseau Dr. David A. Berkowitz • CAPT Mark A. Bryant CDR James Crownover • LCDR Cristina Dar • LT Michael Dubois CAPT JoAnn G. Burton • Dr. Robert K. Cardwell LT Anathea Edleman • LT Lacreisha Ejike-King • LT Robert Gahl CAPT Lawrence E. Chaitkin • LCDR Jennifer J. Clements LCDR Martin Gaudinski • CAPT Suzan Gordon CAPT Rosemary E. Duffy • CDR James K. Farrell LT Michelle Gottshall • LT Karnisha Harvey • LT Veronica Hernandez Dr. Manuel C. Feliberti • CAPT Joseph H. Gainer LTJG Braden Hickey • LT Stephanie Hodges • LT Cam-Van Huynh CAPT Gregory J. Glahn • CAPT Edwin O. Goodman LT Nhi Huynh • LCDR Bernadine John • LT Catherine Kaminski CAPT William J. Goodwin, Jr. • RADM James R. Graham LT Dmitry Keysalov • LT Colleen Kim • LT Lesianelle King LT Joon Lee • LT Sarah Lyrata • LT Nathan Mann • LT Sean Marcsisin LCDR Robert L. Grove • RADM O. Marie Henry CAPT Andrew Margolis • LT Kevin McDermott • LCDR Nathan Moyer CAPT Christine H. Johnson • RADM Florence Kavaler • LT Christopher Mugford • LT Omodele Obadina • LT Alesya Oleynik CAPT James A. Keene • RADM Newton E. Kendig LT Joshua Oliver • LCDR James Parker • LCDR Kari Pinsonneault CAPT Patricia D. Mail • CAPT K. Robert McIntire LT Melinda Pritchett • CAPT Fred Reiff • LT Adelaida Rosario CAPT Robert J. Mork • CAPT Clifford Longstaff Moseley LT Steven Rush • ENS Allison Rydberg • LT Ulysses Singleton CAPT Esther C. Namian • CAPT Charles S. Otto III LT Davis Staley • LT Shaun Stracener • LCDR Amanda Swallow LCDR Cicely C. Reese • CAPT Marc D. Reynolds LT Brent Taylor • LT Joshua Telefer • LT Tashonne Timson CAPT Miguel Rico • Mrs. Patricia Rodak LT Andrea Tsatoke • LT Matt Vogt • LT Sarah Whittington CAPT Christine L. Rubadue • CAPT Betty J. Shuler LT Marian Wiley • LT Marion Willbright • LT Keeshan Williams CAPT J. Gary Sirmons • CAPT Edgar F. Seagle LT Julia Witmer • CAPT Robert Wolf • LT Jong Won CAPT Bruce D. Weintraub • CAPT David L. West LT Courtney Wood • LT Lauren Woodard LCDR Edwin L. Wilkinson

Page 22 | June/July 2018 SYMPOSIUM from page 21 Another reception preceded the annual The Koop speaker was former National Health Communications Specialist at concert from the USPHS Ensemble, which Football League placekicker Rolf the Centers for Disease Control and seized upon the Hispanic-Anglo heritage Benirschke, who told of overcoming life- Prevention in Atlanta of Texas to present an inspired and dual- threatening surgery to return to his job with language potpourri of both instrumental the San Diego Chargers football team. His COA Executive Director Col. (ret.) Jim and vocal music. It was well done, as is prescription for good doctor/nurse/patient Currie then offered an account of the past always the case with the Ensemble. interaction was applicable to much of what year for COA, touching on membership, PHS officers do in their careers. finances, and accomplishments. COA Category Day, a key part of any membership among active duty Corps Symposium, took up all of 6 June, On Thursday afternoon Dr. Leland officers is slightly up from a year ago, followed by category and general social Fairbanks and Arizonans Concerned about while retiree membership is down. events that evening. Smoking (ACAS) presented awards to Currie pointed out that approximately some of the Historically Black Colleges Thursday, 7 June, started with hundreds 35 percent of active duty Corps officers and Universities that have adopted of Commissioned Corps officers rising are not members of COA, but they enjoy smoke-free campuses. ACAS is a long- early, taking (and hopefully passing) the many of the benefits that COA secures time supporter of the Symposium. The APFT, and participating in the Surgeon for its members. Dues payers should afternoon concluded with more concurrent General’s 5K Run/Walk. Participants resent these ‘freeloaders,” as Col. Currie track sessions. received the traditional T-shirt. Following so gently put it, and ought to reach time specifically devoted to visits to the The fifty-fourth PHS Scientific and Training out to their active duty colleagues and amazing exhibitors, attendees were Symposium is scheduled for the first week suggest that they join COA. The Executive treated to the C. Everett Koop Memorial in May 2019 in Minneapolis, MN. Director ended by telling how COA had Keynote Lecture. arranged the opportunity for the Assistant Secretary for Health, ADM Brett Giroir, to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2018. There is a separate story in this issue of Frontline recounting this event. Flight Surgeon Opportunities

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